CONTACT Amanda J. Ely FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Director of Audience Development
[email protected] 757-627-9545 ext. 3322 VIRGINIA OPERA REVISES SCHEDULE OF 2020–2021 SEASON PRODUCTIONS: OPENER RIGOLETTO CANCELLED; REVISED TRIO OF PERFORMANCE OFFERINGS TO BEGIN FEBRUARY 2021 WITH DOUBLE BILL LA VOIX HUMAINE/GIANNI SCHICCHI TO REPLACE COMPANY DEBUT OF COLD MOUNTAIN; MOZART’S THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO AS SCHEDULED; AND THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE RESCHEDULED TO APRIL 2021 Virginia Opera makes major changes to offerings and events in continuing response to effects of COVID-19 Hampton Roads, Richmond, Fairfax, VA (June 30, 2020)—Today, Virginia Opera, The Official Opera Company of the Commonwealth of Virginia, announces an overhaul of the company’s previously announced main stage opera schedule for the 2020-2021 “Love is a Battlefield” season due to ongoing effects and circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. A number of revisions affecting every facet of the company’s operations both on and off stage were required, including debuting the 2020–2021 Season offerings in February 2021, with an attenuated three-production statewide schedule between February 5, and April 25, 2021. Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto, formerly the company’s lead-off October 2020 production, will not be performed; Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance will be rescheduled from November 2020 to April 2021; and the VO season will now begin in February 2021 with the change of a double bill featuring Francis Poulenc’s La Voix Humaine and Giacomo Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi performed in place of Jennifer Higdon and Gene Scheer’s Cold Mountain.